Catocala clintoni
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm KLIN-tun-eye
Grote, 1864

Catocala clintoni (Louisiana-male) courtesy of Vernon A. Brou.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: Noctuidae Group: Noctuinina Subfamily: Catocalinae Genus: Catocala, Schrank, 1802

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DISTRIBUTION:

Catocala clintoni, Clinton's Underwing (wingspan: 45-55mm), flies in Ontario and Quebec (rare) and southward to Florida, west to Texas and north to Wisconsin. It is generally absent or very rare in the New England states.

The black basal dash distinguishes clintoni from illecta and abbreviata, both of which lack the dash.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala clintoni are usually on the wing very early in the season, well before other underwings have emerged. In Florida they are taken from February to May; in Texas from April to July; in northern portions of its range, usually in June and July.

The Catocala clintoni caterpillar feeds on hawthorn, plum and apple foliage.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae at soil surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala clintoni females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive, although some species seem very host specific. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Crataegus Gleditsia triacanthos....... Malus pumila Prunus americana Prunus ilicifolia Ulmus

Hawthorn Honeylocust Common apple American plum Hollyleaf Cherry Elm

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